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Bubbles in the Wilderness

There have been many discussions and debates about the role of FOAM (free open-access meducation) in medical education, the pros, the cons and whether or not, it really is useful.

It may not be for everyone, yet for some individuals – especially those who are remote or isolated – FOAM has transformed how they learn, engage and enjoy medicine. A great example of this — one the RAGE team recommends you read — is Natasha Pirie-Burley’s account, Bubbles in the Wilderness: All about FOAM, published on the Adventure Medic blog.

In 2007 I struggled to find my passion or heroes within my workplace. I listened to closed minds and wondered why everyone was, “just getting through it”. It was un-inspiring and at times depressing. I resigned from my job in the UK and headed to the wilderness of America, New Zealand, Nepal, and Australia. I was searching for heroes and inspiration relevant to my life. Then last year, by chance, I found that Mawson’s bravery, Shackleton’s leadership, Dean Potter’s composure and the family Robinson’s ingenuity were right here at my fingertips and living in these medical pioneers of FOAM.

Natasha Pirie-Burley – Bubbles in the Wilderness: All about FOAM

Vive la FOAM!

Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at the Alfred ICU in Melbourne. He is also a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University. He is a co-founder of the Australia and New Zealand Clinician Educator Network (ANZCEN) and is the Lead for the ANZCEN Clinician Educator Incubator programme. He is on the Board of Directors for the Intensive Care Foundation and is a First Part Examiner for the College of Intensive Care Medicine. He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives.

After finishing his medical degree at the University of Auckland, he continued post-graduate training in New Zealand as well as Australia’s Northern Territory, Perth and Melbourne. He has completed fellowship training in both intensive care medicine and emergency medicine, as well as post-graduate training in biochemistry, clinical toxicology, clinical epidemiology, and health professional education.

He is actively involved in in using translational simulation to improve patient care and the design of processes and systems at Alfred Health. He coordinates the Alfred ICU’s education and simulation programmes and runs the unit’s education website, INTENSIVE.  He created the ‘Critically Ill Airway’ course and teaches on numerous courses around the world. He is one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) and is co-creator of litfl.com, the RAGE podcast, the Resuscitology course, and the SMACC conference.

His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.

On Twitter, he is @precordialthump.

| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC

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